Control plane for multi-SIM devices

Abstract

A user equipment (UE) includes a first subscriber identification module (SIM) and a second SIM. The UE is configured to establish a first cellular network connection based on, at least, the first SIM and a second cellular network connection based on, at least, the second SIM. The UE sends, by the first SIM, a first registration request to the network, wherein the first registration request comprises an identification indicating the multi-SIM device is a type of multi-SIM device, receives, by the first SIM, a first registration accept message indicating the first registration request has been accepted, wherein the first registration accept message comprises a first temporary identification for the first SIM and sends, by the second SIM, an access network message comprising one of the first temporary identification or a further temporary identification based on, at least, the first temporary identification.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 at a user equipment (UE) comprising a first subscriber identification module (SIM) and a second SIM, wherein the UE is configured to establish a first cellular network connection based on, at least, the first SIM and a second cellular network connection based on, at least, the second SIM:
 sending, by the first SIM, a first registration request to a network, wherein the first registration request comprises an identification indicating the UE is a type of multi-SIM device; 
 receiving, by the first SIM, a first registration accept message indicating the first registration request has been accepted, wherein the first registration accept message comprises a first temporary identification for the first SIM; and 
 sending, by the second SIM, an access network message comprising a second temporary identification based on, at least, the first temporary identification, wherein the first temporary identification and the second temporary identification are different. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, by the second SIM, a second registration request including the second temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the second SIM, a second registration accept message indicating that the second registration request has been accepted, the second registration accept message including the second temporary identification assigned to the second SIM, wherein the second temporary identification is different from the first temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the second SIM, a registration reject message indicating that the second registration request has been rejected by the network, the registration reject message comprising an indication that the second SIM is to share a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure with the first SIM. 
 
     
     
       5. A user equipment (UE), comprising:
 a first subscriber identification module (SIM); 
 a second SIM; 
 a transceiver configured to establish a first cellular network connection based on, at least, the first SIM and a second cellular network connection based on, at least, the second SIM; and 
 a processor configured to send a first registration request to a network for the first SIM, wherein the first registration request comprises an identification indicating the UE is a type of multi-SIM device, receive a first registration accept message indicating the first registration request has been accepted, wherein the first registration accept message comprises a first temporary identification for the first SIM and send an access network message for the second SIM comprising a second temporary identification based on, at least, the first temporary identification, wherein the first temporary identification and the second temporary identification are different. 
 
     
     
       6. The UE of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is further configured to send a second registration request for the second SIM including the second temporary identification. 
     
     
       7. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a second registration accept message indicating that the second registration request has been accepted, the second registration accept message including the second temporary identification assigned to the second SIM, wherein the second temporary identification is different from the first temporary identification. 
     
     
       8. The UE of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive a registration reject message indicating that the second registration request has been rejected by the network, the registration reject message comprising an indication that the second SIM is to share a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure with the first SIM. 
     
     
       9. A method, comprising:
 at a network: 
 receiving a first registration request from a first SIM of a multi-SIM device, wherein the first registration request comprises an identification indicating the multi-SIM device is a type of multi-SIM device; 
 assigning the first SIM to a mobility management function of the network; 
 sending a first registration accept message to the first SIM indicating the registration was successful and further including a first temporary identification assigned to the first SIM; and 
 receiving, from a second SIM, an access network message a second temporary identification based on, at least, the first temporary identification, wherein the first temporary identification and the second temporary identification are different. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 assigning the second SIM to the mobility management function of the network based on, at least, the second temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 receiving a second registration request from the second SIM of the multi-SIM device, wherein the second registration request includes the second temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending a second registration accept message to the second SIM indicating the second registration was successful and further including the second temporary identification assigned to the second SIM, wherein the second temporary identification is different from the first temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 sending a registration reject message indicating that the second registration request has been rejected, the registration reject message comprising an indication that the second SIM is to share a non-access stratum (NAS) procedure with the first SIM, wherein the second SIM and the first SIM are identified by the same first temporary identification. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 receiving a service request from the first SIM, wherein the service request comprises a request for a PDU session with the network; and 
 creating the PDU session, wherein information relating to the PDU session includes a unique identifier associating the PDU session with the first SIM. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 receiving downlink (DL) data that is destined for the first SIM; 
 selecting the PDU session to send the DL data to the first SIM, wherein the selecting is based on, at least, the unique identifier associating the PDU session with the first SIM; and 
 paging the first SIM to indicate the DL data is available. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the network is a 5G New Radio (NR) radio access network (RAN). 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mobility management function comprises an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second temporary identification comprises a Serving Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (S-TMSI).